Pubdate: Sun, 17 Mar 2002
Source: Independent on Sunday (UK)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/208
Author: Robert Mendick
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

PADDICK: 'SEX AND DRUG TALK IS ALL LIES'

Kiss-And-Tell Threat To Met's Paddick

Britain's most senior openly gay police officer was fighting to save his 
career last night following lurid kiss-and-tell allegations by a former 
partner.

Metropolitan Police commander Brian Paddick, whose future had been put in 
doubt over comments about anarchism on a radical website, told The 
Independent on Sunday yesterday of gross and false accusations being made 
by his spurned ex-lover.

Mr Paddick, who pioneered the softly, softly approach to cannabis in the 
London borough of Lambeth, is now alleged to have smoked the drug. He is 
also being accused of engaging in explicit sexual activity. The 
allegations, which he vehemently denies, are by his former partner James 
Renolleau, a cashier who worked at Westminster Abbey. Mr Renolleau has now 
fled the country.

In his first interview since the "anarchy" furore, Mr Paddick said he just 
wanted to be "left alone" to get on with his job. That is even more 
unlikely to happen now.

He told the IoS he was being accused of having sex on the Gatwick Express; 
of having oral sex and masturbation in a gay sauna; of smoking cannabis 
with his then partner in their flat; and of failing to tell his police 
bosses he had first met his lover when Mr Renolleau was on police bail.

The commander, who has a new partner, said: "We were in what I thought was 
a caring and honest relationship for five years and I am absolutely 
devastated he should say such things about me.

"He wasn't happy about us splitting up but I had hoped we would become 
friends. "

Mr Paddick said he first became aware of the allegations last week when Mr 
Renolleau telephoned him to say he had sold his story to a newspaper for 
UKP100,000.

Mr Renolleau telephoned him again yesterday from abroad to confirm he had 
been paid "a large sum of money". Newspapers have been trying to dig up 
dirt ever since comments on an internet chatroom at www.urban75.com were 
made public.

These are not the first smears made against Mr Paddick. He has been the 
subject to a series of false allegations and rumours, thought to be 
motivated at least in part by a combination of homophobia and professional 
jealousy.

He has informed his boss, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John 
Stevens, of the allegations and must sit tight to see whether he can 
survive the ensuing storm.

Mr Paddick said last night: "My ex-partner has been paid, he claims, 
UKP100,000. He has now left the country. He has provided The Mail on Sunday 
with a signed statement saying he had cannabis at the flat and we smoked 
cannabis on numerous occasions; that I had gone to gay saunas and engaged 
in oral sex and masturbation and once had sex on the Gatwick Express.

"Also that I met him when he was on bail to the police and I should have 
reported that to my senior officers.

"I completely deny the allegations about the sex. I never went to a gay 
sauna; I never had sex with somebody in the open air.

"As far as the smoking of cannabis, he smoked cannabis sometimes in the 
flat and I argued with him and told him it would get me into trouble and he 
should not do it. But he did do it from time to time."

The pair were together for five years but the relationship ended 
acrimoniously about a year ago. The allegations of illicit sex, said Mr 
Paddick, date back more than six years ago before the pair were going out 
and therefore his account was, at best, secondhand, and Mr Renolleau had no 
proof at all they took place.

Mr Paddick added: "The Commissioner was aware a week ago of these allegations.

"The results we are achieving in Lambeth prove to me I am doing a good 
job," he said. "I just want to be left alone to get on with my job."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager